Wooden chalets, mulled wine, twinkling trees and the smell of gingerbread: Christmas markets are one of the best reasons for a winter city break. Here are Europe’s finest, with their 2026 dates and how to reach them from the UK.
Dates as announced by cities and organisers. They can change, so check the official site before you travel. Many markets close early on 24 and 31 December.
Christmas market dates 2026
- Vienna (Rathausplatz): 13 November to 26 December 2026 (Schönbrunn: 6 November to 6 January).
- Budapest (St Stephen’s Basilica and Vörösmarty Square): from 13 November 2026 until the end of December or early January.
- Copenhagen (Tivoli): 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
- Cologne (Cathedral): 16 November to 23 December 2026.
- Munich (Marienplatz): 20 November to 24 December 2026.
- Colmar: 23 November to 29 December 2026.
- Dresden (Striezelmarkt): 25 November to 24 December 2026.
- Brussels (Winter Wonders): 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
- Strasbourg: from 27 November 2026, usually until 24 December.
- Nuremberg: 27 November to 24 December 2026.
- Prague: 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
Easy by train from London
Brussels
Winter Wonders runs from the Grand-Place, with its sound-and-light show, to the Marché aux Poissons. Waffles, mulled wine and a big wheel, about two hours from London St Pancras on the Eurostar. The easiest Christmas market trip from the UK.
Cologne
Several markets share the city, but the star is the one in front of the Gothic cathedral, under a canopy of lights. Reach it by Eurostar to Brussels, then a direct high-speed train.
Strasbourg and Colmar
Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik is one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, spread across several squares around the cathedral and the giant tree on Place Kléber. Colmar, 30 minutes away by train, has six markets among half-timbered houses and canals. Combine the two, and avoid weekends if you can: the crowds are intense.
Short flights from the UK
Vienna, the most elegant
Vienna has around a dozen markets. The biggest fills the square in front of the City Hall, with an ice rink and illuminated trees. Schönbrunn Palace’s market is grander, Spittelberg’s more crafty. Try the punch and Kiachl, Tyrolean doughnuts.
Prague, the most fairytale
In Old Town Square, stalls gather beneath the Týn Church and the astronomical clock, around a huge tree. It stays open until Epiphany, so it works for a break between Christmas and New Year.
Budapest, the tastiest
Light projections play across the façade of St Stephen’s Basilica every evening. On Vörösmarty Square, try kürtőskalács, a sweet chimney cake baked on a spit. Finish the day in a thermal bath.
Nuremberg, the most traditional
The Christkindlesmarkt is one of Germany’s most famous. Don’t miss the little grilled Nuremberg sausages and Lebkuchen, the local gingerbread. It’s opened each year by the Christkind, an angel-like figure from local tradition.
Copenhagen, the brightest
At Tivoli Gardens, thousands of lights, rides and stalls create a storybook atmosphere. Great with children. The colourful harbourside of Nyhavn has a market too.
Tips for visiting Christmas markets
- Go midweek or in November: far fewer crowds and cheaper hotels than December weekends.
- Book early: hotels in Strasbourg and Colmar fill up weeks ahead. Stay in a nearby town if needed.
- Keep your mug: most markets serve mulled wine in a deposit mug, often with a new design each year. Return it or keep it as a souvenir.
- Check your passport: for EU countries it must have been issued less than 10 years before you enter, and be valid for at least 3 months after you leave.
- Watch for cheap flights: for Vienna, Prague or Budapest, see our latest flight and hotel deals.